Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Glen Campbell's Farewell

I saw Glen Campbell on TV last week talking about his Alzheimer's Disease. He still seemed like himself, but apparently he is starting to forget a lot of things. He's 75, and has released what he calls his final CD, Ghost on the Canvas, which is due out today. I'm sure I'll have to get it and listen to it (and write another blog post about it).

For me, Glen is the man who sang the hauntingly beautiful Wichita Lineman, one of my favorite songs ever. The Jimmy Webb ballad spent a month atop the charts in 1968. Glen also is famous for Gentle On My Mind from the year before and a few other great songs. He had his TV show, which I didn't watch, although I believe my grandparents enjoyed it. He had great looking hair.

I recently found out more about his time with the Wrecking Crew, a group of studio musicians in L.A. He played guitar on a good number of songs that you've heard, such as Fun, Fun, Fun by the Beach Boys and Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man by the Byrds, for example.

Glen has lived large, with four marriages, great success, a few scandals, and now, he's saying farewell graciously, cared for lovingly by his longtime fourth wife and his family.